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Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa

Acting

Born: December 21, 1940Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

Frank Vincent Zappa  (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, electronic, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed album covers. Zappa produced almost all of the more than 60 albums he released with the band The Mothers of Invention and as a solo artist. While in his teens, he acquired a taste for percussion-based avant-garde composers such as Edgard Varèse and 1950s rhythm and blues music. He began writing classical music in high school, while at the same time playing drums in rhythm and blues bands; he later switched to electric guitar. He was a self-taught composer and performer, and his diverse musical influences led him to create music that was often impossible to categorize. His 1966 debut album with The Mothers of Invention, Freak Out!, combined songs in conventional rock and roll format with collective improvisations and studio-generated sound collages. His later albums shared this eclectic and experimental approach, irrespective of whether the fundamental format was one of rock, jazz or classical. He wrote the lyrics to all his songs, which—often humorously—reflected his iconoclastic view of established social and political processes, structures and movements. He was a strident critic of mainstream education and organized religion, and a forthright and passionate advocate for freedom of speech, self-education, political participation and the abolition of censorship. Zappa was a highly productive and prolific artist and gained widespread critical acclaim. Many of his albums are considered essential in rock and jazz history. He is regarded as one of the most original guitarists and composers of his time. He also remains a major influence on musicians and composers. He had some commercial success, particularly in Europe, and for most of his career was able to work as an independent artist. Zappa was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. Zappa was married to Kathryn J. "Kay" Sherman from 1960 to 1964. In 1967, he married Adelaide Gail Sloatman, with whom he remained until his death from prostate cancer in 1993. They had four children: Moon Unit, Dweezil, Ahmet Emuukha Rodan and Diva Thin Muffin Pigeen. Gail Zappa manages the businesses of her late husband under the name the Zappa Family Trust. Description above from the Wikipedia article Frank Zappa, licensed under CC-BY-SA,full list of contributors on Wikipedia.  

Known For
Filmography
Nova '78

Nova '78

Self (archive footage)

2025
Frank Zappa: Cheaper Than Cheep

Frank Zappa: Cheaper Than Cheep

Self (guitar, vocals)

2025
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music

Self (archive footage)

2025
Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention: Live at Whisky a Go Go 1968

Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention: Live at Whisky a Go Go 1968

2024
Cover Your Ears

Cover Your Ears

Self - Musician (archive footage)

2023
Steve Vai - His First 30 Years: The Documentary

Steve Vai - His First 30 Years: The Documentary

Self (archive footage)

2022
Rock this Town

Rock this Town

Self (archive footage)

2022
Kalvøyafestivalen - 50 år siden første riff

Kalvøyafestivalen - 50 år siden første riff

Self (archive footage)

2021
The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

2021
Classic Albums: Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention - Freak Out!

Classic Albums: Frank Zappa & The Mothers Of Invention - Freak Out!

Self

2021
The Art of Dissent

The Art of Dissent

Self - Subject (archive footage)

2021
Larry Flynt for President

Larry Flynt for President

Self (archive footage)

2021
Zappa

Zappa

Self (archive footage)

2020

Stupor Mundi: Book 3, The Most Dangerous Encounter

Self (archive footage)

2019
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice

Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice

Self (archive footage)

2019
Manson: Music from an Unsound Mind

Manson: Music from an Unsound Mind

Self (archive footage)

2019
Echo in the Canyon

Echo in the Canyon

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

2019
Marian Briozzo

Marian Briozzo

Himself (archive footage)

2018
Take Your Pills

Take Your Pills

Self (archive footage)

2018
Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words

Eat That Question: Frank Zappa in His Own Words

Self (archive footage)

2016

Stupor Mundi: Livre 2, Les Hommes qui mangèrent la montagne

Self (archive footage)

2016

Stupor Mundi: Livre 1, Rituel de décapitation du pape

Self (archive footage)

2016
Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention - The Lost Broadcast: The Beat Club '68

Frank Zappa & the Mothers of Invention - The Lost Broadcast: The Beat Club '68

Self

2016

Zapped: Frank Zappa par Frank Zappa

Self - Subject (archive footage)

2016
Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy: The Movie

Frank Zappa & The Mothers: Roxy: The Movie

Himself

2015
Feats First: The Life and Music of Lowell George

Feats First: The Life and Music of Lowell George

Self (archive footage)

2015
Led Zeppelin Played Here

Led Zeppelin Played Here

Self (archive footage)

2014
Frank Zappa – Summer '82: When Zappa Came to Sicily

Frank Zappa – Summer '82: When Zappa Came to Sicily

Himself (archive Footage)

2014
Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II

Made in Japan: The Rise of Deep Purple Mk II

Self (archive footage)

2014
Cheepnis

Cheepnis

Himself

2014
Super Duper Alice Cooper

Super Duper Alice Cooper

Self (archive footage)

2014
Frank Zappa: A Token Of His Extreme

Frank Zappa: A Token Of His Extreme

Himself

2013
From Straight to Bizarre

From Straight to Bizarre

Self

2012
Frank Zappa: The Freak Out List

Frank Zappa: The Freak Out List

Himself

2010
Hart & Soul - The Hart Family Anthology

Hart & Soul - The Hart Family Anthology

Self (archive footage)

2010
Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: In the 1960's

Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention: In the 1960's

Himself

2009
Frank Zappa - Live in Paris 1980

Frank Zappa - Live in Paris 1980

Self

2008
Frank Zappa: The Torture Never Stops

Frank Zappa: The Torture Never Stops

Self

2008
Frank Zappa: The Broadcast Archives

Frank Zappa: The Broadcast Archives

Self

2008
The Wrecking Crew

The Wrecking Crew

Self (archive footage)

2008
Frank Zappa: Music In Review

Frank Zappa: Music In Review

Self (archive footage)

2008
Classic Albums: Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (') Over-Nite Sensation

Classic Albums: Frank Zappa - Apostrophe (') Over-Nite Sensation

Self (archive footage)

2007
Frank Zappa: A Pioneer of the Future of Music

Frank Zappa: A Pioneer of the Future of Music

2007
Frank Zappa: Roxy, 1973

Frank Zappa: Roxy, 1973

2007
Fuck

Fuck

Self (archive footage)

2006

EAV Rarities

Self (archive footage)

2006
Frank Zappa: A Token of His Extreme

Frank Zappa: A Token of His Extreme

Himself

2005
Derailroaded

Derailroaded

Self (archive footage)

2005

Frank Zappa - John, Dan And Me

Himself

2004
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s

Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The 1970s

Self (archive footage)

2002

Frank Zappa: Phase II - The Big Note

Self (archive footage)

2002

Frank Zappa: The Present-Day Composer Refuses To Die

Self (archive footage)

2000
The Artist Formerly Known As Captain Beefheart

The Artist Formerly Known As Captain Beefheart

Himself (archive footage)

1997

Porridge and kerosene

Self (archive footage)

1997
Hey, Hey, We're The Monkees

Hey, Hey, We're The Monkees

Mike Nesmith (archive footage)

1997

An American Dissident: un tributo a Frank Zappa

Self (archive footage)

1994
The Revenge of the Dead Indians

The Revenge of the Dead Indians

Himself

1993

A Life of Extravaganza - The Genius Frank Zappa

Self

1993
The Yellow Shark

The Yellow Shark

Self

1992
Pražákům, těm je hej

Pražákům, těm je hej

Frank Zappa

1991

Tom Arnold: The Naked Truth

Self

1991

Your vote

Self

1991
Frank Zappa: Peefeeyatko

Frank Zappa: Peefeeyatko

Self

1991
Decade

Decade

Self

1989

Služební cesta podporučíka Svěráka

Self (archive footage)

1989
Funny

Funny

Self

1988
Frank Zappa: Live in Barcelona

Frank Zappa: Live in Barcelona

1988
The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels

The True Story of Frank Zappa's 200 Motels

Self

1988
Video from Hell

Video from Hell

Self

1987
Uncle Meat

Uncle Meat

Self / The Imaginary Director

1987
The Amazing Mr. Bickford

The Amazing Mr. Bickford

Self

1987

Night Flight with Frank Zappa, Porn Wars

Self

1985
Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music?

Frank Zappa: Does Humor Belong in Music?

Self

1985
The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers

The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the Shivers

Attila

1984
Cocaine Blues

Cocaine Blues

Himself

1983
Frank Zappa: The Dub Room Special!

Frank Zappa: The Dub Room Special!

Self

1982
The Rolling Stones - The First 20 Years

The Rolling Stones - The First 20 Years

Self

1982

Frank Zappa: New York and Elsewhere

Self

1980
Frank Zappa: Baby Snakes

Frank Zappa: Baby Snakes

Self

1979
Frank Zappa: We Don't Mess Around

Frank Zappa: We Don't Mess Around

Self

1978
Frank Zappa: Opopoppa Stockholm, Sweden

Frank Zappa: Opopoppa Stockholm, Sweden

1973
Yoko Ono: This Is Not Here

Yoko Ono: This Is Not Here

Self

1972
Deep Purple: Made In Japan

Deep Purple: Made In Japan

Self (archive footage)

1972
The Making of 200 Motels

The Making of 200 Motels

Self

1971
200 Motels

200 Motels

Member of Mothers of Invention (uncredited)

1971
Frank Zappa, John Lennon & Yoko Ono: At Fillmore East

Frank Zappa, John Lennon & Yoko Ono: At Fillmore East

1971
Frank Zappa

Frank Zappa

Self

1971
Pink Floyd: Amougies Pop Festival

Pink Floyd: Amougies Pop Festival

1970
Amougies (Music Power - European Music Revolution)

Amougies (Music Power - European Music Revolution)

Self

1970
Burnt Weeny Sandwich

Burnt Weeny Sandwich

Self

1969
Head

Head

The Critic

1968
All My Loving

All My Loving

Self

1968
You Are What You Eat

You Are What You Eat

1968
Mondo Hollywood

Mondo Hollywood

1967
Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution

Inside Pop: The Rock Revolution

Self

1967
Sex in Today's World

Sex in Today's World

Self

1967
The Big T.N.T. Show

The Big T.N.T. Show

Self (uncredited)

1965